The online trading industry often gathers at conferences, expos, and broker events throughout the year. Finance Beach Mixer adds something different to that calendar: an afternoon built entirely around relationship-building, with no agenda competing for attention.
The inaugural edition took place on July 10 at Lasmari Beach Bar in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, bringing together professionals from across the brokerage, liquidity, payments, and financial technology sectors for an afternoon centered entirely on relationship building. FinanceFeeds served as the exclusive media partner, while Broctagon Prime and 26 Degrees supported the event. The concept was developed by Sonata Naujokaitė through expo-consulting, a consultancy specializing in exhibition and event strategy for financial services companies.
Moving Industry Networking Beyond Limassol
Cyprus has long been one of the industry’s principal hubs, with most brokerage events, conferences, and networking gatherings taking place in Limassol. Finance Beach Mixer deliberately broke with that pattern by moving to Ayia Napa, asking attendees to leave the familiar conference circuit behind in favor of a more relaxed setting on the island’s eastern coast.
The change of location was intended to do more than provide a different backdrop. Participants travelled specifically for the event, creating an environment where conversation was the day’s primary focus.
“I picked Ayia Napa because this side of Cyprus never gets shown properly; everyone knows the touristy image, not the real beauty of it. And I knew if people committed to driving over an hour each way, they’d arrive in a completely different mindset,” said Sonata Naujokaitė, founder of expo-consulting and creator of Finance Beach Mixer.
That approach appeared to resonate with senior executives. Around 70% of attendees were founders, chief executives and other senior decision-makers, producing a guest list weighted towards professionals responsible for strategic partnerships, commercial development and business growth across the online trading ecosystem.
Designing Networking Rather Than Leaving It To Chance
Finance Beach Mixer introduced a structured networking challenge at the start of the afternoon. Every participant received color-coded wristbands identifying their area of the industry, together with networking cards encouraging them to meet representatives from different business segments.
With some attendees already knowing each other from the industry, the challenge doubled as a reason for real conversation rather than a quick hello, whether meeting someone new or finally getting to know someone they’d only known by company and job title. The challenge provided a practical reason to begin conversations that might otherwise have been postponed or overlooked.
Because attendees represented a broad cross-section of the industry, conversations naturally extended across multiple disciplines. Brokers met technology providers, payment companies connected with liquidity specialists, infrastructure firms spoke with commercial executives, while media representatives, consultants, and service providers were equally drawn into the networking activity.
Three participants shared the Best Networker title after each introducing themselves to at least 14 new industry contacts during the challenge. Hana Dobrecka of YCM Invest, Antonis Nicholas of Broctagon Prime and Nick Assimenos of Finance Magnates shared the top prize, earning a jet ski experience after finishing level on points.
From Introductions To Longer Conversations
Once the networking challenge concluded, the structured element of the event gave way to a lunch overlooking the Mediterranean before attendees continued discussions throughout the afternoon on the beach. The progression from organized introductions to informal conversations formed a central part of the event’s design, allowing relationships established during the challenge to develop naturally, at the pace attendees set for themselves .
With no presentations, keynote speeches, or exhibition booths competing for attention, participants remained focused on conversation. Instead of moving between meeting rooms or rushing to the next session, attendees were able to continue discussions at their own pace throughout the afternoon.
For companies operating across brokerage, fintech, liquidity, payments, and trading technology, those conversations often represent the starting point for future partnerships. Finance Beach Mixer aimed to create space for exactly those kinds of conversations.
A Different Addition To The Industry Calendar
Finance Beach Mixer adds a different kind of gathering to an industry calendar built mostly around conferences and expos, one centered on a curated audience and a schedule where networking is the primary purpose, not a side activity.
The inaugural edition pointed to real demand for smaller gatherings focused on meaningful introductions, bringing together a predominantly senior, decision-making audience for a format built purely around conversation.